Currie Cup Predictions – Round 4

The Currie Cup continues with a cracking top-of-the-table clash between Griquas and the Lions kicking off Round Four in Kimberley on Saturday, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

ALSO READ: Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour: Stormers vs New Zealand Preview and Prediction.

Also on Saturday, the Bulls XV welcome the Pumas to Loftus Versfeld, while the Sharks XV take their home fixture against the Boland Kavaliers to Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.

Like the Sharks XV, the Stormers XXIII will be in action at an alternative home ground when they tackle the Cheetahs at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.

Griquas vs Lions

Saturday, 8 August – 13:00

With the Kavaliers and the Cheetahs both going down last weekend, there are no unbeaten teams left in the competition.

The Lions, thanks to their tremendous 42-19 win over the Bulls XV at the University of Johannesburg, start Round Four at the top of the log, one point ahead of the defending champions. And, with just three points separating the top five, these two teams will be ultra-determined to get over the line in the Diamond City.

Griquas are notoriously tough to beat at home, but just escaped with a 24-21 win over the Cheetahs in the previous round, and considering how commanding the Junior Springbok-bolstered Lions looked, I don’t see the Peacock Blues defending their turf this time around. 

Prediction: Lions by 7.

Bulls XV vs Pumas

Saturday, 8 August – 15:05

As the only winless team in the competition, the Bulls will be hoping home comforts bring a change of fortunes. Three heavy defeats on the road have the Pretoria outfit languishing in last place, nine points outside of the top four.

The Pumas opened their account last weekend in Wellington, where their fast and ferocious defence, coupled with Boland going off the boil, saw Jimmy Stonehouse’s men secure a 20-15 upset win.

Desperation will drive the Bulls and should result in their best performance so far, but it still won’t be enough for them to break their duck.

Prediction: Pumas by 8.

Sharks XV vs Boland Kavaliers

Saturday, 8 August – 17:15

After stunning the Pumas in Nelspruit in the opening round, the Sharks XV have dropped their next two games, losing 43-21 to the Cheetahs and 36-28 to the Stormers XXIII last weekend.

This is their first home game of the season, but it remains to be seen just what an advantage it is playing this game in KwaMashu rather than at their usual Durban base.

For Boland, this will be a test to see if they’ve learned from two past lessons. The first came in this corresponding fixture in Pietermaritzburg last season. Trailing 20-7, they found their rhythm in the second half and looked to have completed an epic comeback.

Godlen Masimla, however, inexplicably went for a try instead of kicking the ball out for a 31-30 win, and it ended up costing them the game and top spot on the log, with the Sharks XV snatching a 33-31 victory.

The second lesson came last Sunday, when they were their own worst enemies. Abandoning their discipline and common sense, they leaked two yellow cards plus a laundry list of penalties, and made some baffling decisions, resulting in their first loss of the campaign.

Hawies Fourie’s side are a growing force and, as such, I expect them to get the job done.

Prediction: Boland Kavaliers by 3.

Stormers XXIII vs Cheetahs

Sunday, 9 August – 15:00

With last weekend’s 36-28 triumph over the Sharks XV making it two from two at home, the Stormers XXIII will be looking to continue that streak. As mentioned above, though, this clash won’t be contested at DHL Stadium but rather at Athlone Stadium.

In addition, they’ll be without a couple of key players called up to the United Rugby Championship squad for Friday night’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour opener against the All Blacks.

The Cheetahs, meanwhile, are a settled and cohesive unit, and after squandering a golden opportunity to get one over Griquas in Kimberley last weekend, they won’t make the same mistake on Sunday.

Prediction: Cheetahs by 10.